Cineliteracy: What You Need to Know about 1940 as Movie Year
Research in Progress (April 19, 2026)
Top-Grossing Films (U.S.)
The top ten 1940 released films by box office gross:
1 Boom Town MGM, $3,664,000
2 The Great Dictator UA, $3,500,000
3 Rebecca UA/Selznick International Pictures $3,000,000
4 Strike Up the Band, MGM, $2,265,000
5 Northwest Passage $2,169,000
6 Andy Hardy Meets Debutante $1,945,000
7 North West Mounted Police Paramount Pictures $1,900,000
8 The Fighting 69th Warner Bros. $1,822,000
9 Santa Fe Trail $1,748,000
10 Kitty Foyle, RKO Radio Pictures, $1,710,000
Movie Events
February 10:
Tom and Jerry make their debut in the animated cartoon “Puss Gets the Boot.”
February 23:
Disney’s second animated feature, Pinocchio, is released. Though initially not a box office success, the film received critical acclaim and won two Oscars, including Best Original Song for “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
Over the years, Pinocchio has gained cult following; it’s now considered one of the greatest films of all time.
March 21:
Hitchcock’s first American film Rebecca is released, as a David O. Selznick production. Nominated for 10 awards, it won the Best Picture Oscar.
May 17:
My Favorite Wife, Cary Grant comedy, released.
July 27:
Bugs Bunny makes his official debut in the animated cartoon “A Wild Hare.”
October 15:
Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, a satirical comedy starring himself, premieres in New York, a critical and commercial success and goes on to become Chaplin’s most financially successful film.
November 13: World premiere of Disney’s animated Fantasia at the Broadway Theatre in New York, the first film released in multi-channel sound format.
The film also marks the first use of the click track while recording the soundtrack, overdubbing of orchestral parts, simultaneous multitrack recording. The film is box-office failure, though it recoups its cost years later, becoming one of Disney’s highly regarded films.
December 5:
The Thief of Bagdad, pioneering use of chroma key effects, is released.
Oscar Awards: 13th Year
13th Academy Awards
Best Picture: Rebecca – David O. Selznick, United Artists
Best Director: John Ford – The Grapes of Wrath
Best Actor: James Stewart – The Philadelphia Story
Best Actress: Ginger Rogers – Kitty Foyle
Best Supporting Actor: Walter Brennan – The Westerner
Best Supporting Actress: Jane Darwell – The Grapes of Wrath
Major 1940 Film Releases:
January 26
The Fighting 69th
February 2
Pinocchio
March 21
Rebecca
April 20
‘Til We Meet Again
August 30, 1940
Boom Town
October 15
The Great Dictator (limited)
Other Significant Films:
His Girl Friday
My Favorite Wife
Best Actress in Other Organizations
Oscar: Ginger Rogers, Kitty Foyle
N.Y. Film Critics Circle: Katharine Hepburn, The Philadelphia Story
Best Actor in Different Venues:
Oscar: James Stewart, The Philadelphia Story
N.Y. Film Critics Circle: Charlie Chaplin, The Great Dictator (award refused)
Most Popular Stars
(rank-ordered)
Mickey Rooney
Spencer Tracy
Clark Gable
Gene Autry*
Tyrone Power
James Cagney
Bing Crosby
Wallace Beery
Bette Davis
Judy Garland*
Analysis
There were two new faces on the list of popular star: cowboy Gene Autry and Judy Garland, MGM’s child actress, who made smooth transition to likable teenager, after becoming Mickey Rooney’s frequent co-star in the late 1930s and early 1940.
